Chris Hughton feels team effort is the reason behind Norwich's improved form

Manager Chris Hughton believes a collective team effort has been behind Norwich's resurgence.

Anthony Pilkington's second-half goal proved to be enough to give Norwich their third win in the last five Premier League matches following a 1-0 success over Manchester United.

Since the mid-October international break, the Canaries have kept four clean sheets, beating Arsenal 1-0 at Carrow Road, and conceding just once, in the 1-1 draw at Aston Vila.

It is a remarkable turnaround from the start of Hughton's reign, when Norwich had shipped 17 goals in the first seven matches, thumped 5-2 at home by Liverpool and then going down 4-1 at Chelsea, and Hughton believes the players deserve all the praise.

"Any praise that I will get or achievements here is all down to 11 players on the pitch," said Hughton.

"All you can do is set a team up how you want to, try to motivate them, get them right tactically, but as soon as that whistle goes, it is about 11 players.

"At the moment, you have got 11 players who are confident in their own ability and absolutely working their socks off.

"I am really proud of this group. There is a good feeling here at the moment and they really deserve it.

"We are on a good run, and it shows if we are at it and at our best, then we can win football matches."

Pilkington feels Norwich can use their current momentum to push on and stay clear of being dragged back into the relegation dogfight.

"We are unbeaten in six matches now and heading in the right direction," Pilkington said on Canaries Player.

"The lads put in a great shift, they always do, whoever we play.

"Thankfully we are picking up points now."

Pilkington, signed from Huddersfield in July 2011, feels Norwich are finally getting the rewards for their efforts which earlier in the season produced just three points out of the first 21.

"The results recently show what we are all about," he added.

"We have got a great squad and everyone believed right from the start, even when we weren't picking up points.

"We knew we had a great squad and we could win games and that is what we are doing now.